THE SRI LANKA RALLY

4 X 4 TOURING INCLUDEDJanuary 17 to February 8, 2020

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THE LAND OF LIMITLESS BEAUTY

Marco Polo called Sri Lanka the most beautiful island in the world and he was right. Here there are stunning views from high peaks, tropical rainforest teeming with fantastic and prolific animals, a delightful people now reunited after a gruelling 20 year war.

The cultural triangle between Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Dambulla is a jungle-covered plain strewn with granite boulders 200m high, with a profusion of wildlife, exotic plants and World Heritage Sites. The forests are mostly teak, mahogany, ebony and names like rosewood and satinwood that you only come across in antique shops. On the outskirts of villages are mangoes and papayas, cloves and cinnamon and profusion of wild flowers, animals and birds. It’s a country of rare beauty and diversity and is a jewel in our crown of rallies.

SRI LANKA 4X4 CAR RALLY IN DETAIL

Day 01 Arrive at COLOMBO Airport Hotel:MT. LAVINIA HOTELYou will be met at Colombo Airport and taken to your hotel.

Day 02 COLOMBO Hotel:MT. LAVINIA HOTELAccimatise with a city tour of Colombo.

Day 03 COLOMBO – MILLANIYA –
SINHARAJA – 100kmsHotel:BOULDER GARDEN RESORTAfter breakfast we take to the roads for the first time to Millaniya, a remote village just outside Colombo. Changing wheels to Tuk-Tuks we drive past paddy fields to see traditional village life. On show is Cinnamon production, rubber tapping in a small plantation and a local oil making process.

Day 04 SINHARAJA – GALLE – 170kms Hotel:CLOSENBERG HOTELFrom the hotel we take a small trek in the Sinharaja Rainforest. Declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and biosphere reserve, Sinharaja is a treasure trove of both flora and fauna and includes potted deer, hog deer, golden palm civet, stripe necked mongoose as well as countless butterflies and reptiles.

Day 05 GALLE Hotel:CLOSENBERG HOTELIn the morning we drive to Mirissa beach for a spot of whale watching. In the evening take a tour of Galle including the famous Galle Fort. The narrow streets of are lined with Dutch merchant villas, pillared verandas, carved doors and windows.

Day 06 GALLE – UDAWALAWE – 130kms Hotel: GRAND UDAWALAWE SAFARI RESORTAfter Breakfast we start to get into the hills and drive to Udawalawe. There’s time after arrival for a jungle trek and to drive around Udawalawe National Park. Udawalawe is one of the best elephant sanctuaries in the world.

Day 07 UDAWALAWE – WAVULPONE – BELIHULOYA – 146kmsHotel: BELIHULOYA REST HOUSEToday we drive to Belihul Oya via Wavulpone Cave which is estimated to be approximately 500 million years old and contains many staggering stalactites and stalagmites. In the 100m high cave it feels like a prehistoric world with an indoor 85ft waterfall.

Day 08 BELIHULOYA Hotel: BELIHULOYA REST HOUSEWe have an early rise to visit the Devil’s Staircase. On this trail through one of the oldest tea plantations in Sri Lanka – Non-Peril Estate – we will climb 1250m over 18km with 32 impressive hair-pin bends.

Day 09 BELIHUL OYA – HORTON PLAINS – NUWARA ELIYA – 75kms Hotel: GRAND HOTELToday we drive to Horton Plains, one of the most iconic areas of Sri Lanka. We visit the World’s End which has the finest view in all of Sri Lanka where the awesome escarpment drops vertically for about 4,000 feet.

Day 10 NUWARA ELIYA – ADAM’S PEAK – NUWARA ELIYA– 75kmHotel: GRAND HOTELWe drive to Adam’s Peak. At 2243m it is regarded as sacred by a number of religions including Muslims who believe it to be the place where Adam first set foot on earth; Buddhists who believe it is where Buddha placed his sacred footprint on this sanctuary and Hindus who believe it has the sacred footprint of God Siva.

Day 11 NUWARA ELIYA – KANDY – 98kms Hotel:OZO KANDYToday we have a leisurely drive to Kandy home of the last ruler, King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe. Kandy is now a World Heritage Site being the last royal capital of Sri Lankan kings.

Day 13 KANDY – SIGIRIYA – 120 Km Hotel: HERITNACE KANDALAMAAfter Breakfast we drive to Sigiriya which is a mere 90kms away on the direct route but as you would expect we don’t go straight there. En route we visit the Spice Garden at Matale, Dambulla Cave Temple and the gigantic golden Buddha.

Day 14 SIGIRIYAHotel: HERITNACE KANDALAMAA rest day and a chance to visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Step through the gigantic ‘Lion Paws’ overlooking the symmetrical royal gardens below. A truly colossal masterpiece of the age.

Day 18 JAFFNA – NAGADEEPA – JAFFNA Hotel: JETWING JAFFNAWe take an excursion boat to Nagadeepa (aka Nainativu), one of the smallest islands in the Gulf of Mannar. It is both a place of religious significance and beauty.

Day 20 ANURADHAPURAHotel: FOREST ROCK GARDENAnuradhapura is one of the greatest and oldest civilizations in the world spanning more than 1,300 years and 113 kings. See the 2200 year old sacred Bo sapling extracted from the tree under which Lord Buddha attained.

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Bespoke Rallies offers adventurous classic car style tours in some of the world’s most fascinating regions. These are not speed events but offer the opportunity to enjoy driving on the lesser travelled by-ways.